Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
An account of the many tribulations that Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, known for his subversive art and political activism, endured between 2008 and 2011, from his rise to world fame via the Internet to his highly publicized arrest due to his frequent and daring confrontations with the Chinese authorities.
Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry captures a singular subject at a historically charged moment — a dissident artist using social media and provocative installations to challenge an authoritarian state. The film's Novelty is high because its subject is genuinely one-of-a-kind and the documentary gains rare intimate access to Weiwei's world. Cinematography is competent but unremarkable for the genre. The narrative structure (Plot) is solid but follows a fairly conventional 'portrait of an activist' documentary arc. The Ending feels abrupt and unresolved — partly by necessity given the ongoing nature of Weiwei's persecution at time of filming — leaving the film without a satisfying dramatic close. Acting is N/A in the traditional sense but the subjects, including Weiwei himself, come across as vivid and authentic on screen.